Trailer



June 8 1926.

E. V. LAWRENCE TRAILER Filed April 24 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 8 1926.

E. v. LAWRENCE TRAILER Filed April 24, 1920 3 Sheets- -Sheet 2 June 81926.

E. V. LAWRENCE TRAILER Filed April 24, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 avwmtoz Wup the Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD V. LAWRENCE, OF ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR Tb E. V. LAW.

BENCE SAFETY BRAKE COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TRAILER.

Application filed April 24, 1920. Serial No. 876,218.

My invention relates to trailers and has special reference to so-calledsemi-trailers or two-wheel trailers which are adapted to -overhang therear end of the tractor, to which they are coupled by a fifth-wheelstructure. a

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and durablefifth-wheel structure that shall be arranged in such manner as to bereadily coupled and uncoupled to and from the trailers, by means of thetractor power, as desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide an elevating fifth-wheelstructure which shall avoid the necessity of jacking forward end of thesemi-trailer either in coupling to the truck or disconnecting therefrom.

I am aware that fift-h-wheel structures for the same general purposehave been proposed hitherto but they have usually been so arranged andconstructed as to necessitate the jacking of the trailer to a greater orless degree for the purpose of disconnecting the truck from the trailer.

The elevating fifth-Wheel of my invention fundamentally differs from anyof the structures of the prior art, in that the lowerhalf ofthefifth-wheel which forms a part of the tractor, comprises an adjustablemember which is adapted to be raised and lowered, the arrangement beingsuch that the notched front of the lower fiftlrwheel portion allows partof the latter to clear the said bolt while another part abuts the kingbolt of the trailer and allow the tractor to be backed directly underthe trailer.

When in position the power of the tractor is utilized for elevating themovable member of the lower half of the fifth-wheel, thus bringing itinto locking engagement with the king bolt of the trailer. Furthermore,the aforesaid movable member of the'fifthwheel acts like a jack andpositively lifts the front end of the trailer so as to release the usuallegs or supports which hold the trailer body in a substantiallyhorizontal loading position.

The cooperating movable and fixed members of the lower half are lockedin the elevated position as hereinafter. explained more in detail, untilit is desired to disconnect the tractor from the trailer. In that event,the supporting legs are lowered into place and the movable member of thefifthwheel lowered.

In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I will nowdescribe the same in the following specification, and will then pointout the novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a. trailer in loading position, togetherwith a tractor in position to be backed under the front end of thetrader, the cooperating upper and lower fifth-wheel halves being clearlyillustrated.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the same trailer, drawn to a larger scale,with the rear end of the truck shown in cooperative relation therewith,the fifth-wheel halves havng been brought into engagement by backmg thetractor into place and elevating the movable/member of the lower half ofthe fifth-wheel.

.Figure 3- is a sectional elevation showing the cooperating fifth-wheelhalves in detail, including the latch which, under normal operatingconditions, fastens the parts in suitable relation.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation, taken -on the line 4:4: of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the movable member of the upper half of thefifth Wheel.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the lower half of the fifth-wheel.

Figure 7 is a detail view of an auxiliary spring which is preferablyintroduced into the brake actuating rod to avoid the possibility ofstrain.-

Figure 8 is an elevation showing a m'odi fied fifth-wheel structurewhich also constitutes an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

In the drawings, 10 designates a tractor of any suitable type and 11designates'a trailer or semi-trailer of the two-wheel type, the tractor10- having a fifth-wheel lower half 12 which is arranged and adapted tocooperate with the fifth-wheel upper half 13 on the trailer. The traileris provided with legs or sup orts 14 which are pivoted to the trailer b0y 15 at 16 so that they are adapted to be swung under the body when notin use. \Vhen the traileris standing idle or is being loaded orunloaded, with the tractor disconnected, the legs occupy the of the baseplate.

I position shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 2 the trailer is equipped with a brake mechanismdesigable elevating member 20 having bearing rollers 21 mounted on lugs22 and arranged in pairs to cooperate with the cam rails 19 The movablemember 20, has the general form of a disc, with the fifth-wheel bearingsurface 23 at the top and a notch or cut away sector 24 at the back.Furthermore, it is cut away at the center to form a recess 25 in which alatch plate 26 is arranged.

This plate is pivoted on a transverse pin 27 supported in bearing lugs28 and is normally held substantially flush with the bearing surface 23by the action of a spring 29.

-' at the bottom of each cam surface.

It has a central opening or tongue groove 30 and has a downwardlyextending projection or cam lug 31 at the rear.

. The cam rails 19 aresimilar to each other and each of them is formed,as clearly shown in Figure 2, to comprise a pair of inclined camsurfaces 31 on which the rollers 21 rider There is a hook-shaped stopprojection 32 at the rear which is also the high end of the cam surface.There is also a stop 33 At the sion 34'into which the rollers drop undernormal working conditions as shown in Figure 2. I Furthermore, thelocking or-latching levers 35 are pivoted at 36 and are adapted to beswung into position to hold the movable member 20 in itsel'evatedposition, by

. means of a handle 37.

Fifth-wheel upper'half.

The upper half 13 of the fifth-wheel is attached to the trailer near thefront and is v adapted to cooperate withthe lower half 12 on thetractor. It comprises a pair of spaced rails 38 which are secured to theunder side of the trailer body 15 between a pair of transverse bars 39,two pair of downwardly extending brackets '40 which supportspring-pressed stops 41, and a movable. member 42.

rails 38 and han er rollers or pulleys 45 which engage the ange of therail and serve noeaeso to suspend the movable member 42 when the traileris detached. The arrangement is such that the heavier rollers 44 takethe rails 38 while the hanger rollers hold the movable member in placeand prevent it from being dissociated with the trailer when the truck isremoved.

The member 42 is movable longitudinally of the vehicle on the rails 38,to an extent which is limited by the spring-pressed stops 41, and thesestops, at least one pair of them,

as shown in Figure 2, are preferably madeadjustable so that the extentof the lost motion may be varied as desired for the purpose ofaccommodating the brake mechanism as hereinafter. explained. The movablemember 42 has a fifth-wheel bearing surface 46 which cooperates with thesurface 23 of the member 20, and it has a downwardly extending king boltprojection 47 with an enlargement or head 48.

' Brake mechanism.

The brake mechanism 17 comprises brake drums 50 attached to the trailerWheels 51 as shown in Figure 2, and cooperating brake bands 52 which areset by brake actuating levers 53. The brake mechanism further comprisesa pair of hell crank levers 54 connected to the brake actuating lever 53by links 55 and one or. more brake actuating rods 56 which may includeauxiliary springs as shown in Figure 7. This arrangement consists of alug 57 secured to the rod 56' at one end and perforated at 58,, to forma weight of the trailer by pressing on the guide bearing for anothersection of the same rod which may be designated 56 and j which isprovided with a lug 57* corresponding to the lug 57. ()ne of the lugshowever, is preferably adjustable in its position relative to the rod onwhich it is mounted in order to adjust the tension of a spring 59 whichis interposed between the lugs on the rod section 56 and introduces aresilientelement into the rod.

The rods 56 are secured at the front end of the trailer to hell cranklevers 60 which are pivoted on a cross rod 61. affixed to the vehiclebody 15 and are joined by a tie rod 62 at the opposite ends of thelevers.- The cross tie 62 extends between the brackets 42 and isarranged with reference thereto so as to be actuated thereby when thelost motion in the'fifth-wheel is taken up by the pushing of the traileron the tractor due to the'tendency for the trailer load to overhaul thetractor in going down hill or when the usual tractor brakes are applied.

Before discussing the modified structure the operation of thearrangement shown in F i ures 1 to 7 inclusive will be described.

ssuming that the trailer occupies the now only necemary for the driverof the fifth-wheel member shall be elevated b position shown in Figure1, and that the load has been either placed upon it or removed from it,if it is desired to couple the tractor,

'the tractor is backed under the fifth-wheel of the trailer, the movablemember of the lower half of the fifth-wheel bein in the lowered ordepressed position as s own in Figure 1, in which the rollers 21 restagainst the stops 33. In this position the fifth- Wheel bearing surface23 of the lower half is low enough to pass freely under the cooperatingiiith-wheel bearing surface 46 and the parts are guided together by thewedge shaped sector opening 24 which comes into en agement with the kingpin projection 47.

s the tractor is backed into position the king pin projection firstengages a cam surface 63 on the lug 31 and depresses the latch plate 26in opposition to the spring 29. The king pin pro iection 47 then entersthe central opening. he latch plate snaps into position and locks theparts together when they are in. full cooperation. It is tractor to pullforward in order that the the riding of the rollers 21 on the inclinesurfaces 31 of the cam rail 19. The elevation of the trailer thusaccomplished is sufficient to free the legs 14 which may be providedwith springs for automatically swinging them against the body.

When the destination of the trailer has been reached or when it isdesired .to disconnect the tractor from the trailer for any cause, thedriver releases the latch plate 26 by means of the pull rod or cable 64which is suitably connected to a hand lever and operated. from the cab,thus actuatin the latch plate 26 and releasing the hand e 37 so as topermit the movable member 20 I of the lower half of the fifth-wheel todrop back into the position shown in Figures 1 and 3. I

Referrin to Figures 8 and'9, the modification here 5 own comprises anupper fifthwheel section 70' Which is provided with bearin rollers 71cooperating with a bar or rai 72 which is supported in bearing brackets73, as clearly shown in Figure 8.

' The upper fifth-wheel section is prevented from dropping when thecooperating lower fifth-wheel section 74 is separated from it, bymeansof straps 7 5 which extend over the bar 72. The trailer body isdesignated 15 and corresponds to that shown in Figure 1. I The lowerfifth-wheel section 74 has downscrew 79 is rotatively supported inbearings 81 and 82 and has a gear wheel 83 which meshes with the gearwheel 84 on a clutch shaft 85. A clutch 86 overned by an actuating lever87 and pull ar 88, is adapted to throw the gear 84 into drivingconnection with the driving shaft 89 of the vehicle. When the clutch-isset the screw 79 is turnedandthe nuts 78 travel in one direction or theother depending on the driver of the tractor who can use his gear shiftand reverse to govern'the direction and speed at whichthe screw isturned.

When the nuts are in the position shown in Figure 8, the lowerfifth-wheel section 74 is elevated and if it. is desired to detach thetrailer from the tractor, it 15 only necessarv to swing down thesupporting legs 14 or put some other support under the body and thenturn the screw 79 so as to lower the fifthwheel section detaching itfrom the king bolt projection which is formed as in the previous fiires. 1

l have not shown either the slot in the lower fifthwh eel section of theking bolt projection or the upper fifth-wheel section in thismodification, because these parts may 11 t-(idpntical with those shownin Figures Various other modifications will suggest themselves to thoseskilled in this art, and I intend that only such limitations be imposedas are indicate in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a trailer having an upper fifth-Wheel section,of a tractor. having a lower fifth-wheel sectioncompris ing a movablemember adapted to cooperate with the updper fifth-wheel section, andmeans depen ent upon the tractive power of the tractor for-elevating themovable member of said tractor to pick up the trailan upper fifth-wheelsection, of a tractor having a lower fifth-wheelsection comprislng, amovable member adapted to cooperate 2. The combination with a trailerhaving I with the upper fifth-wheel section, and cam supports forelevating said movable member to pick up the trailer.

3. The. combination with a trailer having an upper fifth-wheel section,of a' tractor having a lower fifth-wheel section comprising a movablemember adapted to cooperate with the upper fifth-wheel section, meansdependent upon the tractive power of the tractor for elevating saidmovable member to pick up the trailer,"and releasable means for lockingthe movable member in its elevated osition.

4. T e combination'with a trailer having an upper fifth-wheel section,of a tractor having a lower fifth-wheel section comprising a movablemember adapted to cooperate with the upper fifth-wheel section, cam sup-.ports for elevating said movable member to pick up the trailer, and alatch for holding the movable member in an elevated position 011 the camsupports.

5. The combination with a trailer having an upper fifth-wheel sectioncomprising a bearing plate with a downwardly extending king pinprojection, of a tractor having a lower fifth-wheel section comprising amovable member having a recess and a latch a plate to receive the kingpin, and means dean upper fifth-wheel section comprising a bearing.plate with a downwardly extending kingpin projection, of a tractorhaving a lower fifthwvheel section comprising a movable member having arecess and a latch plate to receive the king pin, means dependent uponthe tractive power of the tractor for elevating said movable member topick .up' the trailer, and releasable means for looking the movablemember.in its elevated position."

8. The combination with a trailer having an upper fifth-wheel sectioncomprising a bearing plate with a downwardly extending 'king pinprojection, of a tract-or having a lower fifth-wheel section comprisinga movable member having a recess and a latch plate to receive the kingpin, cam supports for elevating said movable member to pick upthe'trailer, and a latch for holding the movable member in an elevatedposition on the cam supports.

9. The combination with ,a trailer having an'upper fifth-wheel sectioncomprising a longitudinally movable member connected thereto by a lostmotion connection and having a downwardly extending king pin projection,of a tractor having a lower fifthwheel section comprising a movablemember having a recess and a latch plate to. receive the king pin, andmeans dependent upon the tractive power of the tractor for elevatingsaid movable member to pick up the trailer.

10. The combination with a trailer having an upper fifth-wheel sectioncomprising a longitudinally movable member connected thereto by a lostmotion connection and having a downwardly extending king pin projection,of a tractor having a lower fifthwheel section comprising a movablemember having a recess and a latch plate to receive the king pin, andcam supports for elevating said movable member to pick up the trailer.

11. The combination with a trailer having an upper fifth-wheel sectioncomprising a longitudinally movable member connected thereto by a lostvmotion connection and having a downwardly extending king in an upperfifth-wheel section comprising a v longitudinally movable memberconnected thereto by a lost motion bonnectipn and having a downwardlyextending king pin projection, of a tractor having a lower fifthwheelsection comprising a movable member having a recess and a latch plate toreceive the king pin, cam supports for elevating said movable member topick up the trailer, and a latch for holding the movable member in anelevated position on the cam supports.

my hand this 28 day of Feb, 1920.

E. v. LAWRENCE.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set

